Dartford Crossing charge to rise by 40 per cent in September – check how much you'll now have to pay
THE Dartford Crossing is set to become more expensive to use in just a couple of months time.
The crossing - which was known as the Dartford Tunnel until 1991 - is made up of two tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and carries a charge for many who use it.
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Used by around 180,000 cars every day the cost of using the crossing will rise from £2.50 to £3.50 on September 1, marking the first price increase since 2014.
Transport Secretary, Lilian Greenwood, explained the toll increase was necessary in order to manage the almost 200,000 vehicles that use it everyday.
"I am aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the crossing," she said in a statement to parliament.
"These traffic levels are well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers."
Buses, coaches, vans and other commercial vehicles with two axles will pay up to £4.20 when the new fees kick in, while vehicles with more than two axles will have to pay up to £8.40.
The Transport Minister promised "significant" discounts on the tolls for people living locally and car drivers with prepaid accounts.
"I am aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the Crossing," Greenwood said in her stament.
"I have been determined to keep the nominal fee paid by local people as low as possible, as many rely on the Crossing to get around their local area."
She added that drivers who live in Dartford or Thurrock and who have signed up to the Scheme will pay £25 for unlimited annual crossings from September 1, which is a small increase from the current annual fee.
Greenwood argued: "The new charges will be significantly lower than if they had increased in line with inflation since the tariff was last fully revised in 2014."
Traffic chaos as 'protesters' climb bridge with warnings of huge delays during morning rush hour
The charges at the Dartford Crossing vary depending on the type of vehicle being driven and if the driver already has an account set up on the gov.co.uk website.
The fees are often referred to as the Dart Charge.
Since the tollbooths at the Dartford Crossing have been removed, the charge can be paid on the gov.co.uk website.
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Charges must be settled by midnight the day after crossing but can also be paid in advance.
The government website can be used to pay the Dart Charge and to set up an account to make future payments easier and cheaper.
Users can also use the service to pay or challenge a fine, as well as check which crossings they have paid for.
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